Because the Dodgers are opening the season in Australia, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (front) might have the unique opportunity to start in the team's first three games. PAUL SANCYA, AP

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The unique scheduling at the start of the Dodgers’ regular season offers them an opportunity – they could start their ace, the reigning National League Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw in three of their first six games.

But it doesn’t sound like they are going to take advantage of that opportunity. Dodgers manger Don Mattingly said he felt like it might be pushing things a little too fast, too early with Kershaw this season.

“I think we all are kind of cautious about that, Mattingly said Sunday. “It’s not – ‘Hey, that sounds really good. Let’s do that.’ I don’t think anybody looks at it and thinks that’s really good. It’s more – ‘We gotta be careful about what we’re doing.’”

Conceivably, the Dodgers could start Kershaw in the first game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Australia on March 22 then again in the stateside opener at San Diego on March 30. His normal turn would fall five days later for the home opener against the San Francisco Giants on April 4.

The Dodgers will have five days off in the 15 days following their March 30 game in San Diego. One of the factors arguing against using Kershaw three times in the first six games, Mattingly said, is the effect it would have on the other starting pitchers.

“There’s a period in there where, if you go one way, this guy might not pitch for 12 days,” Mattingly said of starters like Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dan Haren. “We know that’s not a good thing for pitchers. That hasn’t worked very well in the past. We’ll try to get everybody ready for Australia and at that point start making some decisions on how we’re going to set it up.”

But Mattingly said the Dodgers do intend to be more protective of Kershaw who threw a career-high 236 innings last year (second in the majors) plus 23 more in the postseason.

“We’re very mindful of Clayton and the number of innings he pitched last year and the short winter,” Mattingly said. “It’s not in a sense cautious or babying. But we have to make sure we pay attention to how many innings this guy is throwing. We know he’s a workhorse and he’s deep into a lot of games so it’s going to translate into a lot of innings again. We’re just going to be very mindful of, if we can cut an inning here or an inning there, we’re going to try to take care of him.”

Kershaw made it clear he is not looking for any extra time off and said he felt no extra wear from the nearly 260-inning workload in 2013.

“I’ve never been a big fan of monitoring innings,” Kershaw said. “I feel like throwing 100 pitches in nine innings is a lot different than throwing 100 pitches in five innings. I think stressful innings is what you have to monitor. I understand that. I think you feel a lot different after 100 in five than 100 in nine. …Stressful innings are what get you.

“I’m never going to like being taken out of the game. Once the season starts, we all have one goal in mind and that’s to win. If I can help the team win, I’m going to be out there.”

Having the consensus best pitcher in baseball pitch as often as possible would seem to be a pretty good strategy to help a team win. But Kershaw was not about to second-guess any of Mattingly’s plans.

“I’m going to pitch when they tell me to,” Kershaw said. “I’ll be ready for whatever. I guess that’s the best answer to that. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know when I’m pitching yet. Whenever they tell me to, I will. I’ll be ready.”

Kershaw will turn 26 next month and has already thrown 1,180 innings in his major-league career including more than 10,300 pitches the past three seasons alone. But he wouldn’t acknowledge the long-term benefits that might result from a slightly lightened workload now.

“It’s too hard for me to think long term/short term like that,” he said. “In the offseason you can definitely look at that and think about that stuff. It is a little overwhelming to think about pitching for 10 years. But as far as saving an inning to help me down the road I don’t really think like that.”

BIG MONEY

Whenever Kershaw does make his debut, it will be as the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. He recognizes that standing will bring with it a new set of expectations and responsibilities.

“I always say I put enough expectations on myself that I don’t really have to worry about all that other stuff,” Kershaw said. “But I definitely understand people’s expectations are raised.

“I definitely feel a responsibility to live up to the life of the contract, for sure. You don’t ever want to feel you’re not worth it or not living up to it. I guess as far as that’s concerned there is a little bit of a difference. But as far as my mindset, I don’t think anything has really changed.”

NOTES

Sandy Koufax arrived at camp on Sunday. For the second consecutive spring, Koufax will work with the pitchers as a special advisor. Koufax is expected to stay for about a week. ... After pitchers got the day off on Saturday, the full squad was back on the field Sunday. Kershaw, pitching prospect Ross Stripling and Rule 5 pick Seth Rosin threw live batting practice to hitters for the first time Sunday. “It’s fun to be facing hitters again,” Kershaw said after his 25-pitch session. “Everything still works so that’s good.” … Right-hander Yimi Garcia has been shut down from workouts because of a sore right knee. Garcia will be examined and might have an MRI to determine the extent of the problem.

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